Zimbabwe's premier urban culture event, the Shoko Festival, has unveiled celebrated stand-up comedian Nigel Maritinyu, popularly known as Nigel Tha Slick Pastor, as the headline act for the 2026 Shoko Comedy Night, set for September 24 at Harare Gardens.
The announcement marks another major milestone for the festival, which returns for its 16th edition under the theme "Unmuted," a celebration of artistic creativity, freedom of expression, and the power of diverse voices.
Organised by Magamba Network, the Shoko Festival has grown into Zimbabwe's longest-running urban culture festival, providing a platform for music, comedy, spoken word, digital activism, and alternative arts while championing social dialogue and youth expression.
Nigel Tha Slick Pastor, one of Zimbabwe's most accomplished comedians, will make his first live performance in Harare this year after completing a successful comedy tour of the United Kingdom.
"I am so excited to be this year's headliner at Shoko, such a big festival and prestigious stage. This will also be my first time performing live in Harare this year, so all my fans can look forward to a very special experience and a memorable night," Nigel said.
"There is absolutely no reason to miss out on this. I urge everyone to come through and have a good time."
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Joining the headliner is rising comedian Glad Syre Chipenzi, popularly known as Chipenzi, who continues to establish himself as one of Zimbabwe's promising new comedy talents.
Audiences will also be entertained by Neville Farai Nyoni, better known as Neville Bird, whose unique combination of acoustic guitar, music, and comedy has earned him a loyal following.
Hosting the evening will be actress and comedian Sharon Chideu, affectionately known as Magi, a familiar face on Bustop TV.
Shoko Festival Co-ordinator Natasha Sipanera said this year's comedy line-up reflects the festival's continued commitment to nurturing Zimbabwean talent while creating opportunities for emerging performers.
"This year's line-up for the Shoko Comedy Night is a testament to Shoko Festival's commitment to celebrating local stars and providing a platform for unheralded talent, in tandem with this year's theme, 'Unmuted'," Sipanera said.
Over the years, the festival has hosted an impressive roster of performers from Zimbabwe and beyond. Previous comedy headliners include King Kandoro in 2025 and Learnmore Jonasi in 2024, while earlier editions featured acclaimed comedians such as Long John, Carl Joshua Ncube, Doc Vikela, Q Dube, Justine Wanda of Kenya, and several rising local acts.
Its music stages have welcomed some of Africa's biggest names, including South African rappers Nadia Nakai, Cassper Nyovest, and Reason, as well as Zimbabwean stars Tamy Moyo, Kayflow, Bagga, Mafriq, Take Fizzo, Trinity, MC Chita, Mau Mau, Tererai, and Nembo Bwoy, alongside numerous spoken word artists and hip-hop performers from across the continent.
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